July 1947Orenthal James Simpson is born in San Francisco, California. He goes on to become one of the greatest players in the National Football League, whose record with the Buffalo Bills makes him one of America's best-loved sportsmen.

1979"The Juice" retires from professional sport and enters the field of television sports commentary and acting.

June 1994Simpson's former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman are found stabbed to death on the pavement outside her house near Sunset Boulevard. Simpson is arrested after a slow-speed police chase broadcast live on US television. Millions of Americans watched as Simpson was pursued through Los Angeles, driving one-handed while holding a gun to his head, threatening to kill himself.

January 1995The double-murder trial begins, shown live on television. The case is dubbed "the trial of the century" as proceedings grip viewers around the world.

October 1995Simpson is found not guilty after his defence team raised doubts about DNA evidence, police conduct, and a blood-stained black leather glove. The verdict causes an outcry in America, although opinions are divided along racial lines.

February 1997A civil judgement finds Simpson responsible for the deaths of his former wife and Goldman, and orders him to pay $33.5m (£18.9m) in compensation to the Goldman family.

2006Simpson writes a book called If I Did It, which set out how he might have murdered his wife, had he been so inclined. The book is withdrawn and pulped by HarperCollins shortly before being published.

August 2007A Florida bankruptcy court gives the rights to the book to the Goldman family, who publish it under the title I Did It: Confessions of the Killer, in a bid to get some of the damages they are still owed.

September 2007Simpson is arrested on charges of kidnapping two sports memorabilia dealers and robbing them at gunpoint in a room in a Las Vegas hotel and casino.

October 2008Thirteen years to the day since his acquittal of murder, Simpson faces life in jail after being found guilty of kidnapping, armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.